Roller skate



M. LANG ROLLER SKATE Feb. 23; 1932.

Filed May 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATT O R N EY",

M. LANG ROLLER SKATE Feb. 23, 1932.

Filed May .2, 1929 2 'sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Mn TrHew Lanci.

ATTORN EY.

through the skate.

latented Feb. 23, 1932 l MATTHEW LANG,

PATENT OFFICE or AKRON, omo

ROLLER SKATE Application filed May 2, 1929. Serial No. 359,741.

My invention relates to roller skates, and

my object in general is to provide a strong and speedy skate embodying only two wheelsA preferably krubber-tired wheels to cushion shocks and prevent noise and skidding. The skate is made in two sections having interlapping extensions adapted to permit the skate to be lengthened or shortened, and each extension is arranged to interlock with the opposite section to distribute the load and strain. Single wheels being employed for each skate section, provision is also made to take up the side thrust and strains o`n the sections and the wheels The wheels are also provided with ball bearings, and the skate is constructed to permit these parts to be readily removed and replaced, all as hereinafter shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

1n the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top view of a skate embodying my improvements, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. lFig. 3 is a sectional view longitudinally Figs. t and 5 are vertical sections on lines ,4 4 and 5 5 respectively, of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a bottom view ofthe skate. F ig. 7 depicts a modification.

The skate comprises a 'front section A, and a rear section B, having fiat extensions or tongues a and Z5, respectively, placed in overlapping relation on the longitudinal medial line oit' the skate. Section A includes a flat rest or pad 2 for the sole of a shoe, and tongue a isdepressed and offset in respect to this pad so that the top face 3 of the tongue lies in a lower horizontal plane than the bottomsurface l of the pad. The tongue is widened at its base to the same width as top portion 2, and a slot or recess 5 is provided in this widenedpartat the bend or offset 6, thus permitting the overlapping extension b of rear section B to pass through the opening beneath pad 2. A cross-piece or keeper 7 extends transversely. between two depending legs 8--8 on section A, and this keeper is spaced apart from the bottom of pad 2 to interlock .with and hold the extremity 9 of tongue b against vertical and lateral movement, thereby re-enforcing and supporting the bent or offset portion in tongue a where weakened by opening 5 therein. Tongue I; is formed with a slot 10 to receive a pair of clamping bolts 11, and these bolts pass through tongue a to receive clamping nuts 12 for fastening the sections rigidly together, except when extensible adjustments are made. The bottom tongue a extends rearwardly beneath the .heel supporting top 14 of section B and a crossepiece or keeper 15 is also provided between the legs 16-.16 of rear section B to confine and support tongue a. Cross piece 15 also serves as a brace for the legs 1(5-16 which are integral parts of top 14 and of substantial thickness to support .the load and resist lateral strains inasmuch as only a single wheel W is confined centrally of the skate between the legs. The lower extremities of legs 16-16 have axially aligned openings for a removable spindle or axle 17, and cotter pins, 18 or i equivalent locking means extend vertically through openings in the side bosses 19 of the legs and the opposite ends of said shaft. A similar mounting is provided for the front wheel `W between legs 8 8, and like parts relating thereto and the wheels are herein designated. l

by the same characters or numerals.

Thus, each spindle or axle 17 is provided with a key 2O and two flanged ballbearing cones 21 confined between the two legs, and each 'wheel W comprises a ilanged metal body having a hub 22 formed with ball races containing anti-friction balls.23. Dust caps e211 are secured over the hubs, and the flanged rim 25 of the wheel carries a rubber tire 26 which is held removably in place thereon by a fianged screw ring 27 attached to one side of the wheel body. The wheel axle may be readily removed from its support-ing legs upon withdrawing the Cotter pins, and the complete wheel assembly may then be handled independently for replacements and repairs. l/Vhen the parts are assembled the ball bearings take up the side thrust on the wheels. Y

To permit the skate to be fastened to the foot, rear section B vis formed with a semicircular ilange 28 to receive the heel of a shoe, and a buckle strap 29 is secured to the flange at side opening 30 therein. The front skater to more readily maintain his balance section A which seats the sole of the `shoe is provided with a channeled flange orjlugs 31 p one edge 'of the sole of a shoe, and an a justable clamp 32 is slidably aiixed by a screw 33 to at one border edge toereceive'and the opposite edge of section A to grip the sole and press the shoe laterally against the channeled ange 31. A nut 34`is pocketed within a side depression 35 in clamping member 32, and the screw 33vv passes through the nut` and is formed with a round extension 35' having rotatable bearing within the upper I part of the legs, see Fig. 4. As shown, the

legs are molded integral with the sole and heel sections, and preferably each section is molded from aluminum or an alloy of light" weight, and the legs and the foot and heel plate portions of each section made relatively thick and heavy to provide a skate of substantial rigidity and strength to support the user in a state of balance or equilibrium on two wheels arranged .one behind the other on the lingitudinal median line of the skate.

Each skate section may be stamped, forged or otherwise formed in lieu of molding it as described.

In Fig. 7 I show an end view of a skate C constructed as herein described, excepting that the wheels W are mounted at a slight angle of inclination relatively to the shoe clamping part of the skate. In other words the axle for each wheel W is inclined horizontally to permit the wheel to revolve in an inclined plane centrally beneath .the to of the skate, and this arrangement is especlally desirable in a two wheel skate to permit the and to control his movements. As shown, the center of the wheel is located on the vertical median line of the skate.

What I claim, is:

A roller skate comprising front and rear foot supporting members, a pair of wheel supporting legs depending from each member, a keeper rigidly secured to the legs of each member and spaced from the member, a tongue extending rearwardly from the front member and between the rear member and keeper, and a tongue extending forwardly from the rear member and between the front member and keeper, one of said tongues being offset and provided with a slot through which the other tongue extends.

ln testimony whereof I aix my'signature.

MATTHEW LANG. 

